Sexual Assault Alleged

DIGEST

March 10, 1994|Staff reports

WEST PALM BEACH — Police charged a man with sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl on Wednesday, but not before the child's father beat the suspect's face into a swollen, bruised mess, a police spokesman said.

West Palm Beach police arrested John Lewis Evans, 24, who lives in the 600 block of Evernia Street, and charged him with lewd assault on a child, said West Palm Beach police Sgt. John English. Evans was being held on Wednesday in the Palm Beach County Jail in lieu of $3,000 bail.

The victim's father, whose name was withheld by police to protect the identity of the child, was not charged. English said his agency is not investigating the attack, although Evans can ask the State Attorney's Office to pursue charges.

English said Evans, an acquaintance of the family, stopped by their Evernia Street home on March 2 and was asked by a baby sitter to watch the family's two girls, ages 8 and 4.

The 8-year-old girl saw Evans allowing the 4-year-old to fondle his genitals, English said. The older girl pulled her sister away and later told her parents about the incident.

"This guy admitted to doing it, but he said the child was the aggressor," English said.